7 Of The Coolest Christmas Lights Displays Around The Country

By
Libby Ryan
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12/18/2018
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Flickr CC/Pyro Spectaculars by Souza

Every kid wishes their block lit up around the holidays like the ones in their favorite Christmas movies. But these holiday lights displays aren’t the work of Hollywood — they’re very real. Here are seven of our favorites that you can visit this year for an over-the-top winter activity.

1. Mission Inn Festival of Lights, Riverside, California

Flickr CC/Lara Farhadi

The are millions of lights used in the Mission Inn’s annual holiday display — more than 4 million, to be exact. It’s free to watch the spectacle, which includes palm trees and snow (this is southern California, after all) as well as fireworks.

2. Silver Dollar City’s Christmas in Midtown, Branson, Missouri

Showboat town Branson is home to this theme park extravaganza dedicated to all things Christmas. There are parades and recreations of Christmas movies like “It’s A Wonderful Life.”

3. Miracle On 34th Street, Baltimore, Maryland

Flickr CC/Karol Olson

To see this Baltimore tradition, you have to go specifically to the 700 block of 34th Street. Many houses are themed to feature Maryland-specific decor. Keep an eye out for the famous hubcap Christmas tree!

4. The Miracle on South 13th, Philadelphia, PA

Another play on the famous Christmas movie title, the Miracle on South 13th Street in South Philly is a decades-long tradition. Expect lights not only on the houses, but also on all the light posts and even stretching across the streets.

5. Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, NY

Flickr CC/Philipp Alexander

Rockefeller Center usually gets the most Christmas visitors, but way out in this Brooklyn neighborhood, you’ll find an ostentatious winter wonderland. So take a break from Manhattan and venture to see this eye-popping spot!

6. Bentleyville Tour of Lights, Duluth, MN

Far up north in Minnesota, there is a 20-acre light display for your holiday enjoyment. It’s right on the shore of North Superior — it doesn’t get any icier than that! — and you can buy hot chocolate while enjoying the spectacle.

7. Tacky Lights Tour, Richmond, VA

Flickr CC/Taber Andrew Brian

Richmond knows not to take its holiday celebrations too seriously. Each year, the Richmond Times-Dispatch awards homes that are designated tacky enough to make the official tacky list and releases the list to the public. It’s the perfect prize for going all out with the decor!